HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) has directed FDA to explore ways to eliminate the “Generally Recognized as Safe” (GRAS) rule, which is considered by critics to be a “loophole” that enables ingredients to enter the food supply without oversight or a formal safety review.
A partisan letter signed by 85 members of Congress has been sent to President Trump, expressing concerns about the communications freeze ordered for public health agencies like CDC and FDA, especially in light of the ongoing avian influenza H5N1 outbreak.
According to multiple sources, FDA is looking to reinstate staffers who were fired by the presidential administration last week, including at least ten people who are responsible for reviewing the safety of food ingredients. USDA is also working to rehire terminated employees responsible for avian influenza response.
According to Bloomberg,attorney Kyle Diamantas, J.D. is expected to replace former Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods Jim Jones at FDA following his resignation, which was precipitated by mass layoffs within FDA’s Human Foods Program.
Major public health, food industry, and consumer protection groups have stated concerns about the recent mass firing of FDA Human Foods Program staff and the resignation of Deputy Commissioner Jim Jones, expressing that layoffs could jeopardize food safety and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda.
In a February 17 resignation letter, James (Jim) Jones, FDA Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods, stated that 89 “indiscriminate” firings in the Human Foods Program, including layoffs of employees with “highly technical expertise in nutrition, infant formula, food safety response,” would render his job to protect food safety “fruitless.”
Changes are coming to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) with the recent confirmation of President Trump's nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.) as Secretary, amid talks of major workforce reductions at HHS agencies including FDA and CDC.
Sara Brenner, M.D., M.P.H., a longtime FDA and federal government employee, has been appointed Acting Commissioner of the agency. She will lead the agency until the Senate confirms President Trump’s nomination for FDA Commissioner.
The Trump Administration has ordered U.S. public health agencies, such as CDC and FDA, to temporarily pause external communications, including scientific reports and health advisories, until further notice. Any messaging leaving an HHS agency must be approved by a presidential appointee.
The Federal Food Administration Act has been introduced to the U.S. Senate. The bill aims to remove responsibility for overseeing the U.S. food supply from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and give it to a newly created Federal Food Administration.
